Three siblings struck, killed by truck at school bus stop in Indiana

The school bus was stopped with its lights flashing in northern Indiana when a pickup truck drove through the area and hit the kids as they were crossing the road.

Author:
Vic Ryckaert, Indianapolis Star

Published:
8:27 AM CDT October 30, 2018

Updated:
8:10 PM CDT October 30, 2018

FULTON COUNTY, Ind. — Twin boys and their big sister were killed and a fourth child was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries after an early Tuesday crash. The wreck happened as the children were getting on their school bus in northern Indiana.

Xzavier and Mason Ingle, both 6, and Alivia Stahl, 9, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near 4600 North Ind. 25 north of Rochester in Fulton County, according to Sgt. Tony Slocum of the Indiana State Police.

Slocum said the crash happened around 7:15 a.m. when the children, all Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation students, were hit by a southbound Toyota pickup truck as they approached the school bus. The bus was stopped with its lights flashing and its "STOP" arm extended as the pickup truck drove through the area, police said.

The driver of the pickup truck, Alyssa Shepherd, 24, of Rochester, was arrested at her job just after 4 p.m., Indiana State Police said in a news release. She was charged with multiple felony counts of reckless homicide and one misdemeanor count of passing a school bus when an arm signal device is extended, causing bodily injury, court records show.

Shepherd was being held in the Fulton County Jail with a surety bond of $15,000, police said.

Alyssa Shepherd, 24, was arrested on reckless homicide charges after a deadly crash in Fulton County, ISP said.

Indiana State Police

Shepherd remained at the scene after the crash and cooperated with investigators. She was given a blood test as is standard in all fatal crashes, but police said they do not think alcohol or drugs played a factor. The speed limit on this stretch of two-lane highway is 55 mph, slowing to 45 mph on curves.

There are curves just north and just south of the crash site.

Monika Manuszak lives on Ind. 25 south of where the children were struck. She said crashes happen too often. Vehicles have crashed into her yard, she said. Two of her dogs have been struck, she said.

“Something has to change," Manuszak said. "There’s no reason kids should have to die because the speed limit is so high.”

The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation released a statement asking the community for prayers for families, students and staff. "We have deployed all school counselors to meet the emotional needs of our staff, students and parents," the statement said.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also offered his condolences and urged everyone to support those impacted by the crash through prayer.

Words cannot express the depth of sorrow Janet and I feel, which only pales in comparison to what family, friends, teachers, classmates and community are feeling right now. Today, and for many more to come, we mourn their loss. 1/2